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Coffee grounds add nitrogen to your compost pile and help maintain high composting temperatures.

Backyard composting is a great way to turn food leftovers and yard trimmings into fertile soil. Vegetable and fruit scraps, paper and tea bags are among the items that composting microbes break down. Coffee grounds are also a great addition to the compost pile --- they benefit the composting process and contribute to nutrient-rich soil.

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Nitrogen Source

The major ingredients of a compost pile are nitrogen, carbon, oxygen and moisture. Given the right mix of these components, decomposing organisms rapidly break down organic matter and produce rich humus. Brown materials like leaves and wood chips contain carbon, while green materials like grass trimmings and vegetable scraps contain nitrogen. (See References 4 and 6) Coffee grounds are another source of nitrogen for the compost pile; they have a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 20-to-1, equal to that of grass trimmings (see References 1). Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott of Washington State University recommends adding no more than 20 percent by volume of grounds in the compost pile.

Reduced Waste

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, organic materials take up space at landfills and produce methane and leachate pollutants. Coffee grounds are a large portion of waste at coffeehouses; Oregon State University Extension Service estimates that coffee shops in Lane County, Oregon produce 500 tons of grounds per year. Compost specialists in the region have made a dent, collecting 53 tons of coffee grounds from these businesses in a year. In a household, coffee grounds from your daily pot seems inconsiderable, but this waste adds up over time. The nitrogen properties of used coffee are a better addition to your compost pile than to the local landfill. (See References 2 and 3)

Compost Heat

Composting occurs quickly in piles that reach high temperatures. Sustained heat also kills pathogens and weed seeds. In an unpublished study reported by Oregon State University Extension Service, composting specialists found that coffee grounds were more effective than manure at maintaining high core temperatures in the range of 135 to 155 F for two weeks. For backyard composters, coffee grounds provide a convenient and effective nitrogen source without the pathogen concerns of manure handling. (See References 2 and 6)

Vermicomposting

Besides benefiting outdoor compost piles, coffee grounds are also a preferred food of composting worms. Vermicomposting means composting with worms --- usually red wigglers (Lumbricus rubellus or Eisenia foetida); these worms have large appetites and produce compost quickly. In addition to coffee grounds, they also enjoy a diet of kitchen scraps and paper. Carry out vermicomposting in a bin in your garage or basement and worms will feed on coffee grounds year-round. (See References 1 and 5)

References

• Washington State University; Backyard Composting; Bob Smith; 1995
• Oregon State University Extension; "OSU Extension-Trained Composters Use Coffee Grounds"; Tiffany Woods; April 2008
• U.S. EPA: Composting Environmental Benefits
• Washington State University; Coffee Grounds -- Will They Perk Up Plants?; Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott, master gardener; 2009
• Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service; Vermicomposting --- Composting With Worms; Sarah L. Kimball and Gerald A. Doeksen
• U.S. EPA: Composting Science/Technology

Resources

• U.S. EPA: Composting Basic Information